Today’s first reading is taken mid-scene from a key part of the Book of Exodus. We quickly pick up that the infamous “golden calf” incident has occurred and the Lord is not happy as he tells Moses: “I see how stiff-necked this people is. Let me alone, then, that my wrath may blaze up against them to consume them.” Can we blame God? Ever since our expulsion from the Garden of Eden the arc of humanity’s story has been one on increasing and spreading evil with God keeping things in check (e.g. scattering the people of Babel) while looking for a “few good men” – Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Joseph and now Moses. Looking for someone with whom to establish human leadership that could lead humanity back into the presence of God.

In the run-up to today’s reading the people are camped at the base of Mt. Sinai. God invites the people to enter into a binding, forever relationship: “Now, if you obey me completely and keep my covenant, you will be my treasured possession among all peoples, though all the earth is mine. You will be to me a kingdom of priests, a holy nation” (Ex 19:5-6) This is God’s continuing effort to fulfill the promises to Abraham (Gen 12,15, and 17) that he would make of his descendents a great nation, witnesses and representative to the world of the goodness, justice, and compassion of the God of Israel. It is also God’s attempt to bring the people back into His presence.  The people agreed: “Everything the LORD has said, we will do.” (Ex 19:8)

So far, so good. This is the point in the story that God gives Moses the 10 Commandments starting with “You shall not have other gods beside me. You shall not make for yourself an idol.” (Ex 20:3-4). The next four chapters expand upon the 10 Commandments to make clear the Lord’s intent for personal holiness, social justice, and community living that will distinguish them from the other tribes. At the beginning of Ex 25 Moses goes up on the mountain to receive not only the stone tablets upon which are written the commandments, the basis of the Covenant, but also Moses receive instructions on building the Tent of Meeting. The Tent where the presence of God will intimately dwell among his people.

But in the 40 days Moses is gone, the people lose heart: “When the people saw that Moses was delayed in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said to him, “Come, make us a god who will go before us; as for that man Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him.” (Ex 32:1) They asked Aaron to lead them into breaking the first commandments of their covenant with the Lord. It is at this point that God is ready to “punt” and start over – “Then I will make of you [Moses] a great nation.” (Ex 32:10)

It must have been a real temptation to Moses (and for the Lord). It was a way to fulfill God’s promises to Abraham (Gen. 12:2) and to Jacob (Gen. 35:11), but the people would now bear the tribal name of ‘sons of Moses’, not ‘sons of Israel’. The price was for God to abandon his shepherd’s calling and to let Israel go. Their own behavior had earned their rejection, but no true shepherd could do this – and this is what Moses reminds God.

The prayer of Moses (Ex 32:11–13, taken up again in verses 31, 32) is reminiscent of the prayer of Abraham (Gen. 18:22–33). One might argue that Moses is making an intercessory prayer where Abraham was negotiating with God – perhaps a distinction without a difference.

At one level it seems Moses is having an intercession with God: “Let your blazing wrath die down.” But Moses is “reminding” God that what is at stake is whether the people can trust God to be faithful to his promises to the people but at the same be a witness of the One who is “gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in love and fidelity, continuing his love for a thousand generations, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion, and sin; yet not declaring the guilty guiltless.” (Ex 34:6-7)

But let me suggest that God does not need “reminding” but Moses will need to understand what is at stake as he will lead these “stiff-necked people” for the next 40 years. It is God’s desire to be present to His people (who seem reluctant to present to Him!) but obedience and justice will be the hallmarks of the covenant relationship.

Will it work out? Not really. We are curious people who want to be with God… but not just yet or only on our own terms rather than the Lord’s. Our idols might not be “golden calves” but there are idols aplenty. But it will work out in the coming of Jesus when finally there is the One who perfectly fulfills our side of the covenant.